Ten minutes before Draquinox explodes.

Alan could do nothing but watch.

"Get back, Ghost! You’re in my way!" Amelia Laflamme yelled, shoving him aside with the strength of ten people.

As he tumbled six feet away, he saw a giant black tentacle crash down where he had just stood.

Goddammit, that was close!

The last thing he saw before scrambling to find cover was an enormous black blob creeping toward the female pyromancer.

Are we fighting the night itself? Alan wondered, glancing into the distance, unable to see the street they had come from, as if the entire neighborhood had been swallowed by darkness.

Amelia did not pay more attention to him, and focused on conjuring the largest flame possible, which quickly took the shape of a fire dragon. Amelia’s attacks seemed to damage the black entity chasing them, but it was like watching a lit match trying to illuminate a pitch-black room.

If a high-level User is no match for this, what can I do? Alan thought as he ran down the next street without looking back.

I knew I could do nothing... I knew it from the moment that strange girl summoned that dragon in front of me... But WHY?! How did it come to this?! My mind is telling me this is all my fault, but another part of me is shouting that it doesn’t make sense!

I’m nobody! I just arrived in this Utopian world. Right now, my existence is practically lower than an NPC’s. I can do nothing but run!

So why are Amelia’s words haunting me?

His chaotic thoughts vanished after stumbling upon a very ludicrous scene. What the hell am I seeing? Dumbfounded, he walked toward a crumbling building, where an NPC could be seen sweeping off debris.

As Alan stepped inside, he observed the dust-coated tables, a broken cash register on a dirty bar, and multiple signs promoting different coffee beverages. When he stepped on the broken pieces of a porcelain mug, the NPC’s horse ears twitched.

"Welcome to The Queen’s Coffee, sir," the artificial human said, kindly smiling. "Unfortunately, we’re temporarily closed until further notice."

"It’s okay, I’m not here as a customer," Alan replied in a quiet voice. "Sorry for intruding and sticking my nose into your business, but, what are you doing here?"

"I’m just cleaning, sir," the male NPC said plainly. "I’m an employee of this fine establishment, and I’m just doing my job."

"Yes, I can see that, but aren’t you aware of the danger that’s out there? There’s a dragon that could make this place disappear in an instant."

"I’m fully aware of what’s currently attacking the city," the NPC replied while continuing to sweep. "But this place has to be perfect before my boss returns from her trip, so we can rebuild as soon as possible."

Hearing that humanoid say all that while maintaining a serene expression on his face made Alan’s chest tighten. Are you that faithful to your boss and this place, or is it because she ordered you to do it?

A sudden noise jolted Alan from his thoughts. Something punched a hole through the wall and crashed against the café’s bar with a bang.

A quiet female voice then moaned from behind a curtain of dust. “Why do I even bother?—Cough—I could be tasting paella in Espaniel right now, instead of babysitting this--”

“A-Amelia?!” Alan cried out, rushing to her aid. “Are you all right?”

With a grunt, Amelia swiftly backhanded Alan’s reaching hand. “Don’t touch me, conard! This is all your damn fault after all!”

Alan stepped back, watching her eyes blaze with the ferocity of a tiger. Blood adorned her forehead and seemed to blend perfectly with her hair.

The woman that tortured me is now injured in front of me… And I don’t enjoy seeing her like this.

“Do you really believe that?” he asked, looking her in the eyes. “That this is my fault.”

“What is it, Little Mouse?” another female voice intoned behind him. “Can’t wrap your head around my actions? I think I made myself clear while we were at that park, enjoying a drink.”

“Oh, great. Your other yandere girlfriend is here,” Amelia hissed, standing up.

He stood bewildered as Amelia positioned herself in front of him. Though her white exposed shoulders looked fragile and small, her posture was undeniably tireless and dauntless. And now, the woman that made me suffer is shielding me…

“Why are you helping me?” he asked her quietly. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“I’ve already told you,” she replied, annoyed. “I spied on your conversation with Marco. So use your brain for a moment and think.”

“Oh, you two are adorable! Like a couple of lovebirds.” The black-dressed girl giggled from the café’s destroyed entrance. “Just don’t exclude me from your conversation again, okay? Because that’d make me really, really mad.”

“Welcome to the Queen’s Café, miss,” the NPC said to her. “Unfortunately, we’re closed at the--”

Without glancing at him, the girl conjured a shadow tentacle from something lurking behind her and whipped him, an action so fast that Alan only saw the result: The NPC was sent flying against the dining tables in the same way Amelia accidentally got there.

The strenuous sound of the NPC’s body hitting the furniture made Alan shut his eyes.

“What was I saying?” the mysterious girl said, poking her chin with her index finger. “Ah, yes! Tell me, Alan. Are you enjoying the Eclipse Festival?”

“Festival?! If you’re referring to this act of terrorism against the city, then NO! Why are you doing all this in the first place?!”

The girl hiding her identity seemed to glance in Amelia’s direction. “Sorry, Alan, I’d love to answer, but I’d rather not say a word in front of this meddling bitch here.”

“Why? I know all about it anyway,” Amelia said aloud, smirking. “All of this has to do with this guy having logged out three years ago, isn’t it? Are you trying to silence him, or something?”

The enemy took a short but pronounced pause while grimacing. “Oh! Have you been opening your trap, Alan? What a nuisance…”

I have a bad feeling about this…

Alan noticed the entire place rapidly getting dark. He looked at the establishment’s windows and observed a black mass crawling and obstructing them. The café’s interior became pitch black soon after.

“Quick-Flarelight,” Amelia cast, creating a luminescent orb of fire, and a third of a second later, something long and sharp tried to stab her head. She dodged it and retaliated with a flamethrower attack. “Quick-Dragonbreath!”

The unknown girl laughed as she used the shadows behind her as a shield. “There seems to be a little misunderstanding, so listen up, you two! It’s true that I did my best to meet Alan today, but that was just for fun! Our true goal was to make an example out of this city so that the entire Novus could see that nothing is for granted! Safe Zones? What a joke!”

From the windows sprouted more shadowy living spikes, prompting Alan to duck and cover his head, but after a moment, he noticed that the black appendages were only targeting Amelia.

He glanced at her, wielding a shield in her left hand and a short sword in her right one. Their metal was as red and shiny as her hair.

Although Amelia successfully cut and protected herself from many attacks, the sharp tentacles gradually cut through her dress and flesh. In a matter of seconds, she could be seen bleeding from thirty different parts of her body, yet she did not wince nor cried once.

Is the enemy toying with her? Alan thought, watching the unknown girl’s grin.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Do you know the Solar Flare spell, miss pyromancer?” the enemy asked, sneering. “Of course you do! Look at your level. You could easily get rid of my attacks by casting it, but I suppose this Little Mouse would end up charred. Is that what you’re avoiding?”

Hearing that made Alan jolt from his spot. “Do it, Amelia! Don’t worry about me and save yourself--!”

“SHUT UP!” the redhead yelled back. “Who do you think I am?! I’ve already decided that I’d repay you for torturing you the other night, so I’ll give you this bitch’s head as a present! Just watch, as I, Amelia Laflamme, The Hell’s Princess, kick this woman’s--!”

“You bore me…” the girl in black whispered.

It happened in a second. The pointy end of a skewer came out of Amelia’s chest. She coughed blood, a huge portion of her HP bar was taken, and her weapons disappeared like an extinguished fire.

It was a shadow spike that erupted from the ground!

Before Amelia could fall on her back, Alan’s body moved on its own and caught her. A couple of seconds later, he felt a warm liquid staining his hands.

T-This isn’t real…

The memory of Ashley / Isabella II agonizing in a pool of her own blood kicked in.

This is NOT REAL.

And like an unwelcome guest, dozens of security videos from the Santa María provided by Isabella I burst into his head.

This is not real… This blood isn’t real… Death means nothing here…

His mind would not let him forget. It stubbornly reminded him of graphic, violent scenes: his old coworkers getting shot by laser pistols, his superiors getting stabbed by improvised lances made of iron tubes and pieces of hard plastic. Some of the technicians were choked to death by a legion of white humanoid figures. Some were electrocuted.

THIS IS NOT REAL, THIS IS NOT REAL, THIS IS NOT REAL!

The ones working in the hangar were smashed by the 60-feet mechas locked there. A couple in particular, who were resting in their chambers, died after the room’s system drained all the oxygen inside and locked them up. A woman was dragged down by her hair out of her hiding spot, before getting her head crushed by a white, metallic foot.

“This is just a well-constructed illusion…”

“G-Ghost?” Amelia faintly called, frowning. “Why are you crying?”

Alan’s head slowly turned to look at her, causing a tear to fall on her cheek. “I-I…”

“You’re such a weirdo…” she muttered before her HP dropped to zero and her face lost color.

The girl in black clapped immediately. “At last! Dammit, Alan, this chase was super tiring, but I’d admit it was kinda fun! I suppose you’d finally come with me without making another fuss, right?”

Alan closed his eyes while still holding Amelia’s body. “You… think… killing is… funny?”

“Stop with that somber attitude, Alan. She’s fine! She’ll respawn in 24 hours. What’s the big deal? All the damage I did to this city and its inhabitants will reverse back with time. Isn’t that boring?”

“We inherited this peace…”

“That again?” the girl intoned, annoyed. “You said something like that an hour ago. So what?”

“I won’t let you…” Alan said through clenched teeth, and when he opened his eyes to glare at her, the color of his irises turned electric gold.

“Huh?” The girl tilted her head to her right. “Are you awake--?” She suddenly jerked her head, looking to her side. “You have to be kidding me...”

Ten city blocks from there, the two-headed dragon, Draquinox, self-destructed. Although they were not in the center of the nuclear blast, the shockwave tore down the café instantly, and the explosion’s blinding light forced the girl’s enormous shadow surrounding the building to disappear.

A minute later, Alan coughed, and it sounded muffled.

Am I still alive? But… how?

He tried to stand, but his head bumped into something sturdy and metallic. Unable to see anything, he reached out his hands, finding a metallic structure. I’m inside some sort of one-person-sized dome. Wait, don’t tell me that…

Having fulfilled its purpose, the dome quickly disintegrated, letting light get through and revealing Amelia’s body still lying on the ground close to Alan. Her long hair hid her face.

“Did you do this?” he asked quietly, biting his lower lip. “Your body hasn’t vanished yet, so I’ll assume I can still save you. I’ll take you to a healer, okay?”

Before he could lean down to take her in his arms, he heard someone else coughing.

“That was—cough—close—cough—Talk about friendly fire…” the enemy muttered while getting rid of her ripped hooded jacket.

After what seemed like an entire day, Alan finally met his pursuer. A young woman with pale skin and hair as white as the moon, who grinned ear to ear once she locked eyes with him.

Someone I’ve never met, definitely, Alan thought and quickly scanned the surroundings. The black blob or something similar to a living shadow was nowhere to be found. Only a leveled terrain full of debris and desolation. Wait, I sense something nearby. No… Not something. Someone…

“There’s nowhere to run or hide, Little Mouse,” the girl said, strolling towards him. “It’s over.”

“You said I wasn’t your main target, but I think you’re lying,” Alan said, glaring at her. “What do you want from me?”

“The only thing I’d want from someone as insignificant as you,” she said, stopping three steps away from him. “Information. That’s your only value.”

“Insignificant?” he sneered. “I don’t think so. You could have ambushed me and read my mind with that creepy ‘Dreammare’ spell from the start, but you opted to talk with me. You WANTED me to see what you did to this city.” Alan slowly rose and smirked, which made the girl narrow her eyes. “Even if you only did it to mess with my head, you value my opinion regardless. As if you see me as your equal…”

The girl snickered, before full-on laughing. “What are you talking about?!” she began speaking in a childish tone. “Are you blind or something? Look at what I did to this place, and I was just messing around! Imagine if I was serious about destroying this entire city. And you?! You’re a measly crappy level five!”

“I’m not talking about power,” Alan said, taking one step forward. “Why bother meeting me here, then? It’s almost as if you see me as a threat.”

The girl’s eyes lost their shine. “So, you know.”

“That’s damn right. And as I was saying…” Alan paused, as his green eyes turned golden again. “I won’t let you ruin this generation’s peace.”

The girl heard someone approaching her, but it was too late. The café’s NPC sucker-punched her in the face. As she fell to the ground, Alan saw a fraction of her HP bar disappear.

“What the hell is wrong with you?! Why are you interfering?!” the white-haired girl cried to the servant.

The NPC said nothing, jumped over her, and began strangling her, all while maintaining a neutral expression on his face.

“The—hell?” she managed to say, before looking in Alan’s direction.

His eyes still glowed goldenly, extremely focused on the action, as if he could not let himself be distracted for a second. The girl then observed the NPC’s eyes, having a similar color and shine.

“Are—you—doing—this?” she asked, turning purple.

“I won’t let you get away with this,” Alan said, while he inadvertently bled from his nose. “Surrender now so I can bring you to the authorities.”

Black stakes sprouted out of the girl’s chest, impaling the NPC. When that did not manage to kill him, the girl’s black leggings liquified and transformed into a serpent with a blade for a head, that automatically targeted the NPC’s neck and beheaded him.

The girl’s face turned red as she violently coughed. “What did—cough—you do?”

“I have no idea…” Alan replied faintly, shutting his eyes, as a sudden dizziness hit him. He fell to his knees, while droplets of blood fell from his nose to the ground.

I ask the same… What did I do? Wait, was I really the one that forced that NPC to…

With narrowed eyes, he looked up, finding the woman standing next to him. Four tentacles were coming out of her shirt and seemingly ripped leggings.

Her silver eyes looked cold and absent. As those of a killer with no remorse. She finally looks annoyed, Alan thought, chuckling. It’s like staring at something inhuman.

Without a threatening remark or a single word, the girl just stretched out her hand to grab his head.

My mission is over before it even started… Isabella, you were wrong about choosing me.

“Don’t touch him,” a voice said behind him. “I’m the only one that can make him suffer.”

“You’re still--!” The white-haired girl tried to finish her sentence, but a burst of fire hit her face.

Was that Amelia?! Before checking the state of his temporary ally, Alan glanced at the enemy’s HP bar, which had barely dropped. That won’t do. I’m glad that Amelia is okay, but she’s surely too weak to finish off the… Eh?

Alan lost his train of thought, witnessing the flame around the enemy’s head transform into something solid. Red, shiny metal. Like the weapons she was wielding and the many shields with which she had protected him today. Is this her power?

In a blink of an eye, the enemy was forced to wear what seemed like a red round helmet.

The unknown girl did not have time to react, dodge, or shout. Unable to see, talk, or even breathe, she desperately tried to get rid of the thing to no avail.

“You should be glad that I didn’t do this to you,” Amelia quietly said in his ear.

Alan reserved his comments while watching the enemy try to cut the helmet with her remote-controlled tentacles, but after a while, she stopped moving.

Just by looking at her contorted body, Alan understood the agony she had gone through.

Whoever that was, her body is disintegrating. This didn’t happen to Amelia’s body, even though I SAW her HP go all the way down. Did she have a card under her sleeve?

Alan glanced in Amelia’s direction. She was giving him her back, observing the result of the dragon’s explosion.

He sighed. This nightmare is over…

No. I correct myself. It’s just getting started.

“Thanks, Amelia.”

“I don’t want your gratitude, I want answers,” she turned to him, arms folded. “What the hell was all this? What are you hiding?”

“Not now,” he said softly, standing up. Once he stood by her side, he could not avert his eyes from the devastation miles in front of them. “Please?”

“Hmph,” she uttered, pouting her lips. “That bitch knows my face, you know. So! I’m kind of involved in this now. Whether you want it or not.”

“I… I’d rather not… Trust me.”